Raising A Child with ADHD is Never Dull

Where do I start? I think the real challenge would be . . . where do I finish. I can go on and on, but I want to share with you some insights that I have learned in raising a boy diagnosed not only with ADHD, but with O.D.D. (oppositional defiant disorder) and Tourette Syndrome. I am especially challenged because I also suffer from ADHD.

It’s been a rough road from day one. No sense sugar-coating it. It’s hard! His ongoing struggles in school often stem from teachers and aides who think that if his disability isn’t “noticeable to the eye” it can’t be a disability. His teacher’s will often say he is “just lazy” or “mean spirited”, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. As his mother, I have gone way beyond what a “normal” parent goes through in raising their child. It seems like I spend most of my time calling schools, attending disciplinary meetings, and arguing daily with my son to keep up with his school work and not get in trouble.

I have been fortunate to finally have found after many years an advocate for my son other than myself. My son’s therapist has helped me better understand my son’s behaviors. He has attended IEP and discipline meetings as an advocate for my son. He has tried to demonstrate to my son’s teachers that ADHD is a real disorder and not an excuse for bad behavior.

My son, like all children, does respond positively to the right type of treatment. He wants to be liked by his teachers even though he can be harder to teach and sometimes harder to like.

Raising my son has been a struggle every day, but he’s worth fighting for. I will not always get it right, but I will never give up . . . trying new ways, because raising a child with ADHD, you always have to find new ways. I guess you can say one thing . . . life is never dull.